Question

The biomass of marine ecosystems is relatively low when compared to terrestrial ecosystems, and yet their productivity is just as high. This is because: Group of answer choices A) Marine biomass tends to be slow growing. B) Marine biomass is "turned over" quickly by grazing. C) Nutrients like Fe and N limit their growth. D) Marine biomass is spread out over a larger area.

Answer 1

Marine ecosystems, despite having lower biomass than terrestrial ecosystems, can have similar levels of productivity due to rapid 'turn over' of biomass by grazing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The biomass of marine ecosystems is indeed often lower than that of terrestrial ecosystems, but they can still have similar levels of productivity. The key reason for this is option B) Marine biomass is 'turned over' quickly by grazing. This means that the biomass within marine ecosystems is rapidly consumed and then returned to the ecosystem as waste that can then be reused by other organisms, creating a faster cycling of biomass and energy. Unlike terrestrial ecosystems, where biomass can accumulate and growth can be slower, marine ecosystems have quick energy transitions which allows for high productivity despite their lower overall biomass.

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